Semi-graphic panel



Jan. 27, 1970 c. M. BOWDEN 3,491,459

SEMI-GRAPHIC PANEL Filed March 5, 1967 I II IIIIIIIIIIII IlIIlIIl/tl.

INVENTOR C. M. Bowden ATTORNEYS v United States Patent O US. CI. 35-28 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to a modular semi-graphic panel display device. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to a display device which may include one or more semi-graphic panel sections, each section having two viewing plates of transparent material such as clear plastic, and a suitable backing plate mounted in upper and lower channels. A drawing of a system or process to be displayed is positioned between one viewing plate and the backing plate, and features or components on the drawing are highlighted by applying shaped, adhesive labels on the one viewing plate over the feature or component to be highlighted. An outstanding feature of this structure is its versatility. Changes in the depicted process or system may be incorporated by merely disassembling the panel, substituting a modified system drawing for the obsolete drawing, and providing new labels as required to highlight the components as desired. I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Increased complexity in modern process plant layout, accompanied by the broad adoption of automatic, centralized systems for controlling plant operations, has brought about the widespread use of graphic panels to assist an operator to visualize that over which he must exercise control. Graphic panels on which are outlined piping diagrams, relative equipment locations, valve locations and positions, and instrumentation, are invaluable in providing an operator with a comprehensive picture of plant operation and a means of ready comparative analysis when trouble shooting is required.

Heretofore, graphic panel displays generally have been assembled as single units for each represented system. Ordinarily they are permanently constructed and any change in system relationship is apt to render an entire graphic unit obsolete. Further, it has been the usual practice to provide customized graphic representations for every depicted system at an extremely high cost.

SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a display device which is economical to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a display device wherein changes in the system being depicted may be incorporated without replacing an entire graphic display.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a semi-graphic display device, wherein no special display drawings are required.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a display device wherein graphic display labels are mounted on a plate of transparent material and in alignment with a suitable system diagram or drawing so as to enable selective emphasis of elements of the drawing.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a display device wherein minor changes in the depicted system can be reflected without changing the entire display, and wherein graphic display labels may be changed without disturbing the system diagram.

ice

These and other objects are attained by the present invention wherein a modular display system is provided, each module having a device for supporting a suitable drawing of a system to be depicted, a transparent plate mounted over the system drawing and graphic display labels mounted on the transparent plate to emphasize selected elements of the drawing.

The novel features of the presentinvention, both as to its organization and method of assembly, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more readily understood from the following description of one embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters represent corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one section and part of a second section of the novel modular semigraphic display device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial top view, partially cut away of the structure of the present invention at the point where adjacent modular sections abut.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that a semi-graphic display device 10 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of display modules 12, each display module 12 including a backing plate 18 mounted in upper and lower U-shaped channel members 14 and 16, respectively. Backing plate 18 comprises a substantially rectangular plate of suflicient thickness to preclude bending or buckling when in assembled position, and may be made of sheet metal, plywood or other suitable material as appropriate. The U-shaped channels, which may be standard aluminum channels or the like, are mounted on a supporting surface 17 by suitable means, such as bolts, screws or the like. A drawing 20 having a process flow diagram to be depicted, or some portion thereof, is mounted between the backing plate 18 and a plate of rigid transparent plastic 22 which is also received in the upper and lower U-shaped channel 14 and 16, and which is substantially the same size as backing plate 18. Drawing 20 can be a line diagram or other suitable drawing of the system to be depicted and does not have to be specially made for graphic display purposes.

Graphic display labels 24 comprising labels adhesively secured to the surface of transparent plate 22 may be used to emphasize selected elements of the depicted system which appears in greater detail on the system diagram. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, a second transparent plate 26 of rigid plastic, and substantially the same size as backing plate 18, is mounted in the U-shaped channels 14 and 16 to cover and protect the transparent plate 22 which has graphic display labels 24 adhesively secured thereto.

As can be best seen in FIG. 3, upper U-shaped channel 14 is deeper than lower U-shaped channel 16. This depth differential allows the backing plate 18, drawing 20, and transparent plates 22 and 26 to be securely received within the channels 14 and 16, and also to be removed as desired. Removal is readily accomplished by lifting the section to be removed until the leg of lower channel 16 is cleared and then tilting the section to be removed outwardly. Thus, to change a flow diagram drawing to reflect modifications, transparent plates 22 and 26 are removed in the manner described above, the obsolete section of drawing is removed and a replacement drawing substituted therefor. Transparent plate 22 is then replaced and changes are made to the graphic display labels 24 which reflect the changes the base system. These changes to the graphic display labels are accom plis'hed quickly and easily by rnerely peeling off the Old label and adhesively afiixing the new. Thereafter, the second transparent plate 26 is replaced. In that the flow diagram drawings to be used are preferably engineering drawings already available; most modifications to the display will merely involve disassembly and assembly of the system to substitute drawings and the replacement of obsolete display labels. a

As is obvious from FIG: 1, when the depicted system is relatively large and complex, a plurality of the semigraphic 'fiisplay modules may be advantageously used, further simplifying the task of maintaining the display current;

When a plurality of the modules are used, it is preferable, but not necessary, to make U-shaped channels 14 and 1 6 the common support means for each module. The areas of abutment may be attractively concealed through the use of sealing Ts 28, see FIG. 4, which sub-;

stantially fill the space between the modules extending from the lower edge KJf upper U-shaped channel 14 to the upper edge of lower U-shaped channel 16.

The structural and operational advantages of the present. invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art view of the foregoing description. Further, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. a What is claimed is:

1. A display device for a drawing representing a subject comprising:

support means including upper and lower U-shaped channels mounted on a supporting surface said upper U-shaped channel leaving agreater depth than the lower U-shaped channel to facilitate removal of modules; a plurality of modules each separately mounted in said support means comprising: E

a backing plate having upper and lower edges, the upper edge of which is received in said upper U-l shaped channel adjacent ime leg thereof, a first rigid transparent plate removably mounted in said upper and lower U-shaped channels and superimposed over said backing piate, a portion of a drawing of a subject to be displayed, said drawing portion removably ,mounted between said" backing plate and said first transparent plate, a second rigid trangparentplate removably mounted in said upper and lower U- shaped channels superimposedover said first transparent plate, and display labels adhesively mounted on the surface of said first t ransparent'plate opposite said backing plate, each of said labels having a shape corresponding to the shape of a selected element represented on said drawing portion and being superimposed over said corresponding 'ele'r'nent said modules being arranged in said' support'means adjacent each other so that the combination of drawing portions in each module depicts the" overall subject, whereby portions' of said subject may be changed cation of the entire display device.

7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1925 Paul 35-19 3/ 1933 Baker.

1/1938 Riley 3528 5/;1943 Rosaire 35-40 4/1950 Muldrow 3540 5/1958 Heiser 35-28 4/1963 Ladbury 35-:75 X

OTHER REFEliENCES Tooling and Production magazine, December 1952, p. 118 only. 7

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner 4 H, S, KOGQULST, Assistant Examiner oy selectively removing a module without m0difi-" 

